Sancho III of Pamplona

King Sancho III of Pamplona (990-18 October 1035) was King of Pamplona from 1004 to 1035, succeeding Garcia Sanchez II of Pamplona and preceding Garcia Sanchez III of Pamplona.

Biography
Sancho Garcez was born in 990, the son of King Garcia Sanchez II of Pamplona and Jimena Fernandez. Sancho became King of Pamplona at the age of fourteen, and his mother presided over a regency council for him. He aspired to unify the Christian kingdoms against the Muslim taifas, and he forced Berenguer Ramon I of Barcelona to become his vassal, although he was already a vassal of the King of France. In marrying Muniadona of Castile, he established good relations with Count Sancho Garcia of Castile, and Sancho served as regent for his son Garcia Sanchez of Castile until his assassination by rival nobles in 1027. Rather than allow Leon to extend its power eastwards, into Castile, Sancho occupied the country and had his son (the future Fernando I of Leon) named his successor. When Bermudo III of Leon took the throne in 1028, Sancho had his son marry Bermudo's daughter Sancha of Leon, but he later went to war with his Leonese enemies. By March 1033, he had extended his rule to Zamora, conquering Astorga in the process. In 1034, he was crowned King of Leon after conquering the Leonese capital, uniting the Christian kingdoms. Unfortunately, he was assassinated at Aguilar de Bureba on 18 October 1035, and his son Fernando succeeded him.